Messier 8

This is just a test image taken while I installed new focusing software. Messier 8, often called the Lagoon Nebula, is about 4-6 thousand light years from earth. The nebula contains a number of Bok globules (dark, collapsing clouds of protostellar material), the most prominent of which have been catalogued by E. E. Barnard as B88, B89 and B296. It also includes a funnel-like or tornado-like structure caused by a hot O-type star that emanates ultraviolet light, heating and ionizing gases on the surface of the nebula. This is only a 50 minute exposure but the nebula is very bright so it shows up well. Click for a larger view. This image was taken on 9/11/14 just before the moon came up.